With the Australian Open on its way to wrapping up, tennis fans are gripping their seats with excitement. During times like these, it is the duty of all good sports programs to bring commentary that can convey just that sort of excitement. This past week, NHK's headliner sports news program Saturday Sports did just that by inviting a very special guest to appear and provide commentary, none other than Takeshi Konomi, the author of Prince of Tennis.

Konomi's appearance, which was broadcast live on January 24 at 9:50PM JST, provided live commentary on the Australian Open as Japan's representative Kei Nishikori battled the U.S.'s Steve Johnson in his third match of the tournament. The match resulted in a win for Nishikori, moving him up into the fourth round. Nishikori would continue on until he was eliminated in the Quarterfinals.

In addition to his commentary on Nishikori's match, Konomi appeared previously onSaturday Sports. Appropriate to his expertise in atheletic bishonen characters, Konomi's topic for that appearance was on explaining what goes into Nishikori's appeal.

The night before his January 24 appearance, an excited Konomi posted about his invitation to be on the show via his Twitter account, making a joke about possibly wearing the American jersey worn by Prince of Tennis's Ryoma (pictured left).

A long lost interview, featuringWilliam Hartnell, has been recovered in part by the BBC.Hartnell was interviewed by Roy Plomley, for the Home Service radio programmeDesert Island Discsin 1965. The edition was transmitted on 23 August while Hartnell was at the height of his powers as the Doctor.The recording was thought lost, erased by the BBC. However it is understood that a 16 minute section has been recovered and will shortly be available on theBBC iPlayer. The recording was available for a short period earlier today, but was removed pending an official announcement.Desert Island Discs celebrates its 73rd Anniversary today, having been running continuously on BBC radio since 1942. In the programme guests chose the music they would take to a desert island if they were stranded there alone. Jon Pertwee and David Tennant have both also appeared in the series.

Thursday, 29 January 2015

Toyota Marketing Japan and the media company Dwango are planning a shogi (Japanese chess) match using real Toyota cars as pieces. The large scale match between 55-year-old 9-dan professional shogi player Yoshiharu Habu and 25-year-old 7-dan shogi player Masayuki Toyoshima will be held at the Seibu Dome in Saitama on February 8.

The Seibu Dome will be repurposed into a giant game board. The cars representing each piece are:

Crown Athlete & Land Cruiser (kings)

86 (hachiroku), Mark X, Esquire (rooks)

FJ Cruiser, Hiace, Mirai (bishops)

Prius, Alphard, Noah, Estima (gold generals)

Harrier, Voxy, Vellfire (silver generals)

Auris, iQ (knights)

ProBox, Corolla Axio (lances)

Aqua, Vitz, Passo (pawns)

Professional test drivers will take part in the match by moving the "pieces."

The match is part of a collaboration promoting the Den-Ou Sen finals, a set of shogi matches that pit human players against AI specifically designed to play shogi.

FUNimation Entertainment announced on Wednesday that has an agreement with Japanese publisher Kodansha to create a free-to-play online game based on Fairy Tail. Online video game developer and publisher GameSamba, for whichFunimation CEO Gen Fukunagaserves as Chairman of the Board of Directors, is developing the game.

The game will be a turn-based RPG. Players will be able to customize a character with their chosen type of magic, create their own guild, and explore Fiore to recover their lost memories. Characters from the Fairy Tail guild will appear in the game as allies. Players will also be able to team up with their friends.

Aniplex of Americaannounced on Wednesday that it will release the Aldnoah.Zero anime soundtrack. The imported soundtrack will ship in the United States and Canada on February 10 for an MSRP of US$44.98 and a sales price of US$34.98.

The upcoming film Dragon Ball Z: Fukkatsu no F (Dragon Ball Z: The F in Fukkatsu, or The Resurrected F) will be the first Japanese film to open in 3D IMAX Digital Theaters. The film willpremiere in 18 3D IMAX screens as well as other 2D and 3D screens throughout Japan on April 18.

Dragon Ball manga creator Akira Toriyamasaid in an interview in November that the 'F' in the film's title stands for "Frieza," who will be revived in the film. Toriyama noted that he thought of the title while listening to "F" by rock band Maximum The Hormone, whom he came to know personally through a friend. The song itself features Frieza as a motif, and will be used as a "battle song" during one of the battle scenes in the film. The band originally released the song as its eighth single in July 2008.

The film stars two original characters designed by Toriyama himself: Sorbet (seen above-left) and Tagoma (above-right). The characters are the survivors of the Frieza army who use the dragon balls to revive him.

A campaign is currently in progress to raise funds to publish a new book about the Doctor'ssecond best friend*,K-9. The initiative is being driven byK-9series co-creatorPaul Tams, and will explore the character's many lives throughDoctor Who,K-9 and Company,The Sarah Jane Adventures, and in his own series.Paul Tams says:

It's amazing there has never been a book dedicated to the full story of K9; his adventures in Time and Space and beyond and the making of the TV shows in which he appeared. We aim to correct this oversight and present an amazing volume of features, photos and behind the scenes information. We also aim to have several new stories and comic strips from classic writers including his original co-creator Bob Baker himself.

The book will become a lasting tribute to the people who created, acted alongside, designed and built K9 throughout the years and an insight into the world of TV production. Plus a look behind the scenes at plans for K9's further adventures on screen!

Funding for the book is being organised throughIndieGoGo, and there are a number of perks that can be chosen by those who participate in the campaign.Details on the modern series of K-9 can be found at theK9 Officialwebsite.

Wednesday, 28 January 2015

Yuu Watase, manga creator of Fushigi Yugi and Arata: The Legend, wrote on her blog on Monday that Shogakukan'sMonthly Flowers magazine is running her Fushigi Yugi: Byakko Ibun (Fushigi Yugi: Curious Tales of the Byakko) manga as ayomikiri, not a full series, in February. The term can mean a self-contained short story of a few chapters or less. The term usually means a one-shot story, but Monthly Flowersmagazine is announcing that the manga "begins" in February.

The March issue of Monthly Flowersannounced the new manga on Wednesday, and the manga will begin in the next issue on February 28.

The magazine teases:

"Fushigi Yugi's Byakko Chapter begins at last!""The new work fans have long waited for!! The story of the Priestess of Byakko, as written in the Universe of the Four Gods, finally debuts!!"

Watase previously reported that she would restart her Arata: The Legend manga this year.

The official Tumblr for Adult Swim's Toonami block announcedon Tuesday that Attack on Titan, Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell, and Space Dandy will no longer air after February 7. The block was reduced to 12:00 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. on Saturdays, running for a total of 3.5 hours. The update promised more new shows in the future. Toonami did not guarantee any of the cut shows would return to the schedule. Toonami credited low ratings in the later hours as the reason why the shows were cut.

This Saturday, January 24, the block will run from 11:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. EST and will not air a new episode of Attack on Titan. On Saturday, January 31 the block will run from 11:30 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. and not air IGPX and Samurai Jack. IGPX will also go on hiatus, and both IGPX andSamurai Jack "will likely be back at some point." The final two episodes of Samurai Jack will be available on Adult Swim's website and video on demand.

The anime adapts of Torako's romance comedy light novel series of the same name. The story follows a high school freshman named Yūta Togashi was once a "chūnibyō patient," a teenager with delusions of grandeur. He wants to bury this embarrassing past and begins a new life in high school — unsuccessfully. His classmate Rikka Takanashi, a "current" chūnibyō patient, has forced Togashi into "making a contract" with her.

The Maids of England group has announced a Maid Cafe eventon Sunday February 15 at the necco Japanese Cafe bar in Exmouth Market between Holborn, Angel and Kings Cross (map here.)

There are two different sessions, at 12 p.m. to 1.45 and at 2.15 to 4. The first session will have a Lolita fashion theme, and the second will have a high school uniform there.

Regular tickets are available here at £9 each. In addition, there are special 'chocolate' tickets which can be bought here. The chocolate tickets do not give entry to the event - a regular ticket is also needed - but they buy a handmade chocolate and a letter from one of the staff.

Kill la Kill Part 2 [Collector's Edition on DVD and Blu-ray] This will contain episodes 10 to 19 over 2 discs. This package will come with a rigid art box, a digipack housing the discs and an art book (over 200 pages). Outside Japan, the UK will be the only territory where this art book will be available. It will have subbed and dubbed soundtracks, clean Opening and Ending titles and Web Previews.

Wings of Honneamise (standard DVD edition, plus Collector's Edition containing DVD and Blu-ray). The Collector's Edition will come with a rigid box, a digipack and a 20-page booklet.

Anime Limited adds that 'As things stand the film will be presented in its complete uncut form, however (all going well) we are intending to make the scene that was removed from the original UK home video release (many years ago) chapter marked to make it easy for those who don't want to watch it to skip past it.' The scene in question involves a sexual assault, and was cut from theManga Entertainment VHS edition to secure a 'PG' certificate.

Regarding Gurren Lagann Ultimate Edition digipack replacements, Anime Limited says 'Our supplier is hoping to start sending the next wave of digipacks before the end of this week (w/c 26th January.) This isn't to say they will have all be sent out during this week, but the process will be underway. We fully appreciate it's been a long wait for some of you and once again we apologise for the delay.'

Tuesday, 27 January 2015

The above video shows One Piece composer Kouhei Tanakatalking about 'Katayoku no Taka," which is the theme for the character of Shanks. "This music is full of heroism but also a bit sad. It has a great melody and I love it."

The One Piece music concert will be held at London's Cadogan Hall on Saturday February 7 at 8 p.m., performed by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and Tanaka. A press release described the event as 'a spectacular multimedia video and music show featuring a world-class level full orchestra playing the best selections from the One Piece TV series and movies.'

Cadogan Hall is close to Sloane Square (directions). Tickets are available here.

The March issue of Shogakukan's Monthly Flowers magazine is announcing on Wednesday that Yuu Watase, manga creator ofFushigi Yugi and Arata: The Legend, will launch the newFushigi Yugi: Byakko Ibun (Fushigi Yugi: Curious Tales of the Byakko) manga. The manga will start in the magazine's next issue, which will ship in Japan on February 28. The manga will have a color opening page, and it will also adorn the issue's cover.

The magazine teases:

"Fushigi Yugi's Byakko Chapter begins at last!""The new work fans have long waited for!! The story of the Priestess of Byakko, as written in the Universe of the Four Gods, finally debuts!!"

The magazine also notes that there will be news on the Suzaku and Seiryū stage plays.